Sealing closure



June l9,v 1951 KRupp 2,557,827

SEALING CLOSURE Filed 001;. 23, 1944 I small .P-Kzz u?! Petented June 191951 SEALING CLOSURE Carroll P. Krupp, Barberton,

Ohio, assignor to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application October 23, 1944, Serial No. 559,9548 Claims. 24205.1)

The invention relates to closures for sealing adjacent margins andespecially to sealing slide fastener structures.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending applicationfor Sealing Closure, Serial No. 509,427, filed November 8, 1943, nowmatured into Patent No. 2,545,817, dated March 20, 1951.

Objects of the invention are to provide for closing and sealingeffectively adjacent separable margins of a structure at a face thereof;to provide for maintaining the seal despite fiexure of the margins; toprovide closure means including sealing elements having outwardlyextending sealing portions at said face for sealing by lipaction of saidportions; to provide protecting means for guarding against accidentalbreakage of the seal; to provide for assuring the positioning of thesealing elements in sealing relation with one another; to provide forresisting objectionable fiexure of the margins tending to separate suchelements; and to provide simplicity of construction, convenience ofmanufacture and effectiveness of operation.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.and in which like numerals are employed to designate like partsthroughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sealing closure constructed inaccordance with and embodying the invention, parts being broken away andin section,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the respective components of the closureas such components are molded, the sealing margins being shown inseparated condition, V

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the closure in cluding an end thereofmounted on the wall of a hollow article, parts being broken away and insection,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modification of the sealing closure,parts being broken away and in section.

Fig. 5 is a view like Fig. 4, but showing a runner in engaging relationwith parts of the closure, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a further modification of the sealingclosure, parts being broken away and in section.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, thesealing closure includes preferably a slide fastener structure III fordetachably uniting adjacent margins II and I2 of an article I3 to befastened, and includes sealing elements I4 and I5 of suitable elasticmaterial such, for example, as resilient rubber or other rubber-likematerial, which overlie fastener elements I6 and I! of such structure.

The slide fastener structure In includes flexible margins or stringersI8 and I9 of suitable mate rial such, for example, as woven fabric ofcotton, linen, silk, rayon or other suitable material, which stringersmay be coated or impregnated with resilient rubber or other rubber-likematerial 20 and 2I for fluid-sealing purposes and for facilitatingadhesively attaching the stringers to the separable margins II and I2 ofan article I3, which may be a garment, container, tent or otherstructure as to which a sealing closure is desired.

Adjacent marginal edges of the stringers are provided with beads 22 and23 of cords of suitable filamentary material attached, as by sewing 24at each face of the stringers and extending continuously along suchedges. The spacedapart cooperating fastener elements I6 and I! aremounted in series upon each of the stringers at said marginal edges,engaging the material of the beads 22 and 23 and the stringers I8 and I9. The fastener elements include engaging portions 25 and 26 andmounting portions 21 and 28 and may be of metal, plastic or othersuitable stiff material having the desired strength characteristics. Aslider or runner 29 of suitable known construction, including a topplate element 30, a channeled bottom plate element 3| and a pull tab 32,may be used for engaging and disengaging the opposing series of fastenerelements I6 and H, the runner being slidable along the respective seriesof elements.

For closing and sealing the separable margins I8 and I9 of the structureII), the sealing elements I4 and I5 may be mounted directly on themounting portions 21 and 28 of the fastener elements I6 and I1 and arepositioned in lip-sealing contact with one another at adjacent outwardlyextending sealing portions 31 and 38 in the manner shown especially inFig. 1. Since the sealing elements may be made of suitable rubbermaterial, they may be molded directly upon and adhered by a vulcanizedbond to the mounting portions 21 and 28 of the fastener elements andextend continuously along the beaded marginal edges of the stringers,bridging the spaced-apart fastener elements of the respective series atsuch edges and extending over the ends of the fastener elements intocontinuity with the rubber layers 20, 2I of the stringers. The rubbermaments in alignment for facilitating and assuring coaction between thelatter during the engaging anddisengaging operations of the sealingclosure. I j The sealing elements l4 and I5 are generally L shape insection providing base portions 33 and 34 positioned at the mountingportions 21 and 3813f the fastener elements and marginal portions'35 and36 extending laterally from the base Qkp'ortions and,overlying theengaging portions 25 '26 of the fastener elements in separated relationthereto, thereby providing space for the fjre sliding movement of thetop plate element 30 of the runner 29 along the faces of the respectiveseries of engaging portions 25 and 28 of said fastener elements.

accordance with the invention, the marginal portions 35 and 36 includesealing portions 31 and 38- tapering to edges 39 and 40 and extendinggenerally normal to the face of the structure H) in position for sealingby lip-action of such edges against one another. The relative positionsof the sealing elements in the as molded and non-flexed condition andbefore engagement of the fastener elements with one another are shownespecially in Fig. 2, the margins or stringers I8 and I9 being in aseparated condition.

The marginal portions 35 and 36 including the sealing portions 31 and 38may terminate at or short of the ends of the fastener elements forfacilitating flexing contact of such sealing portions with one another,especially at the region of the edges 39 and 43 thereof. The adjacentfaces of the sealing portions 31 and 38 may be substantially smoothsealing surfaces 4| and 42 extending outwardly in the generally on sub--stantially normal direction to the face of the structure III, that ismore nearly in the true normal direction than in the direction parallelto said face, which sealing surfaces may be angularly inclined relativeto one another for promoting resilient lip-action sealing by the edges39 and 40 by virtue of the flexure of the tapered portions 31 and 38.The marginal portions 35 and 36 of the sealing elements also includeprotecting portions 43 and 44, preferably of generally rounded contouradjacent and spaced from the sealing portions 31 and 38, which portions43 and 44 protrude outwardly to at least the height of the edges 33 and40 for guarding such edges against accidental separation thereof andbreakage of the fluid-tight seal of the closure.

For closing in a detachable manner the separable margins II and I2 of aninflatable article l3, for example, having flexible wall portions ofsuitable impervious fabric material, the sealing closure may be attachedto the flexible margins H and I2 such that the sealing elements l4 and|5 are positioned within the interior of such article for protectionpurposes and for functioning in cooperation with the internal pressureto further assure a fluid-tight seal. The fabric stringers l8 and I! ofthe slide fastener structure I0 may be attached to the margins H and IIby means of a suitable adhesive 45 such, for example, as rubber cement,or by sewing 46, or both, such that the rubber coatings 20 and 2| onsuch stringers may be positioned against the fabric wall of the article.

The respective ends of the sealing closure may be sealed and closed inthe manner shown especially in Fig. 3, and for purposes of description,since both ends may be identical, the construction at one end at 5| onlywill be described in detail. End portions 41 and 48 of the sealingelements M and I5 are arranged with the sealing surfaces 4| and 42 incontact and the sealing portions 31 and 38 at portions 41 and 48 aresccured together as by a suitable adhesive at such surfaces. A tapeelement 50 of suitable rubber material may be adhesively secured at theend at 5| to the wall of the article I3 and to the end portions 41 and48, overlapping such wall and end portions and conforming smoothly tothe extreme ends at 49 of such portions thereby completing the sealingof the closure at the end at 5|.

In the operation of changing the sealing closure from the closedcondition shown especially in Fig. 1 to the open condition shownespecially in Fig. 3, the slider or runner 29 is manipulated along thefastener elements lfi-and H in the direction, for example, away from theend at 5|. Such movement of the runner disengages the fastener elementscoincidental with separating the sealing elements l4 and I5 andpositioning the latter elements in spaced-apart relation to one anotherby virtue of their transverse movement with respect to the longitudinalcenter line of the slide fastener structure, since such sealing elementsare mounted directly upon the fastener elements l6 and I1. In thismanner the sealing portions 31 and 38 are separated and permitted toflex and resume the as molded" position, as shown especially in Fig. 2,the edges 39 and 40 thereof being no longer in contact for sealing bylip-action. With sealing closure in the open condition, a body ormaterial may be admitted into or removed from the hollow article |3through the opening defined by the separated margins H and I2 andstringers l3 and IS.

The sealing closure is returned to the closed condition by moving therunner 29 in the direction toward the end at 5|, which movement of therunner re-engages the fastener elements and draws together the sealingelements H and I5. This drawing action brings the sealing portions 31and 38 into flexing contact with one another, whereby the edges 39 and40 contact one another and the sealing surfaces 4| and 42 wholly orpartially contact one another substantially throughout their entireextent in the outward direction, as shown especially in Fig. 1. In thismanner the separable margins H and I2 of the article l3 and thestringers l8 and N of the slide fastener structure H) are closed andsealed fluidtight by the lip-action of the sealing elements. Pressurewithin the article further assists in maintaining such seal by thepressing action of such pressure upon the exposed surfaces of thesealing elements, especially at the region of the edges 39 and 40. Byvirtue of its construction and arrangement, the sealing closuremaintains its sealed condition despite flexure and twisting to areasonable extent of the margins thereof; since the sealing portions 31and 38 may move relative to one another and the edges 39 and 40 thereofmay move likewise against and along the respective surfaces 4| and 42,thereby maintaining lip-sealing contact with such surfaces throughoutthe flexing and twisting of the closure.

The modified construction 55 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is, in some of itsaspects, like the sealing closure shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive,especially with respect to sealing by lip-action. The modifiedconstruction 55 includes a slide fastener structure 56 includingseparable stringers 51 and 58 of suitable fabric material and fastenerelements 59 and 60 attached along adjacent margins of such stringers,which margins have beads 6| and 62 suitably attached to such margins,the beads being of suitable cord material. A runner 63 substantiallylike the runner 29 provides for engaging and disengaging the cooperatingfastener elements 59 and 66.

Sealing elements 64 and 65 of suitable resilient rubber material arepositioned at a face of the slide fastener structure 56, which elementsmay be mounted directly upon the stringers 51 and 58 instead of upon thefastener elements, as in the construction shown in Fig. l. The sealingelements 64 and 65 are separated from the fastener elements 59 and 60 toprovide space for receiving the runner 59 without binding against suchrunner, the sealing elements being desirably generally L-shaped insection. Such sealing elements include sealing portions 66 and 61tapering in section to edges 68 and 69 and extending generally onsubstantially normal to the face of the structure 56 in position forsealing by lip-action of said edges against one another. The sealingportions 66 and 61 may be provided with substantially smooth sealingsurfaces 18 and 1| extending outwardly in the generally on substantiallynormal direction to the face of the struc-- ture 56, which sealingsurfaces may be angularly inclined relative to one another for promotinglip-action sealing by the edges 68 and 69 of the sealing portions 66 and61. The sealing elements also include protecting portions 12 and 13,preferably of generally rounded contour adjacent and spaced from thesealing portions 66 and 61, which portions 12 and 13 protrude outwardlyto at least the height of the edges 68 and 69 for guarding such edgesagainst accidental separation thereof and breakage of the fluid-tightseal of the closure.

For the as molded" condition, the sealing elements 64 and 65 includingsealing portions 66 and 61 extend to or short of the ends of therespective slide fastener elements 59 and 68. Sealing coatings 14 and 15of suitable resilient rubber-like material in continuation of thesealing elements 64 and 65 may be provided on the stringers 51 and 58 atsaid face of the slide fastener structure 16. The sealing elements andthe coatings may be secured to the fabric stringers 51 and 58 as by avulcanized bond and molded and vulcanized under heat and pressure.

For bracing and supporting the sealing elements 64 and 65 to prevent andfurther guard against accidental breakage of the lip seal underobjectionable relatively severe twisting and flexing of the slidefastener structure 56, there is provided at the opposite face of thestructure 56 a pair of bracing elements 16 and 11 of suitable resilientrubber-like material. The bracing elements 16 and 11 may be generallyL-shape in section providing base portions 18 and 19 and marginalportions 80 and 8| extending laterally from the base portions, themarginal portions and 8| having desirably flat sealing surfacesextending generally normal to said opposite face of the slide fastenerstructure 56 and adapted for abutting relation with one another.

portions 18 and 19 are positioned closely ad- The base jacent the endsof the fastener elements 59 and 60, as shown especially in Fig. 4, andsuch base portions are positioned opposite the corresponding baseportions of the sealing elements 64 and 65. Sealing coatings 82 and 83of suitable rubber-like material in continuation of the bracing elements16 and 11 may be provided on the stringers 51 and 58 at said oppositeface of the slide fastener structure, and such coatings 82 and 63 andthe bracing elements 16 and 11 may be secured thereto as by a vulcanizedbond and molded and vulcanized under heat and pressure.

The bracing elements 16 and 11 are so constructed and arranged that, forthe closed condition of the closure 55, the marginal portions and 8| arein abutting contact with one another at the sealing surfaces; and thebracing elements present a continuous truss-like wall extending betweenthe base portion of the sealing element 64 and the base portion of thesealing element 65, whereby such bracing elements support the stringers51 and 58 and the sealing elements 64 and 65 to prevent separation ofthe latter under objectionable bending and twisting of the sealingclosure.

In the sealing closure 55 of Figs. 4 and 5 the runner 63 has a channeledtop plate element 84 positioned for engaging the fastener elements 59and 68 and positioned within the space defined by the sealing elements64 and 65 overlying such fastener elements. The runner 63 has a flatbottom plate element 85 positioned adjacent the fastener elements andwithin the space defined by the bracing elements 16 and 11, which bottomelement includes an outwardly projecting portion 86 extending betweenthe abutting surfaces of the marginal portions 80 and 8|, as shownespecially in Fig. 5. A pull tab 81 is in engaging and pivoting relationwith the projecting portion 86 of the runner, whereby the runner may bemanipulated from said opposite face of the slide fastener structure 56.

The sealing closure 55 may be positioned on the separable margins of thearticle l3 substantially in the same manner as described hereinabove forthe construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the sealing elements64 and 65 being at the interior and the bracing elements being at theexterior of the article. This arrangement permits sealing effectivelythe opening in the wall of the article while protecting the sealingelements, including the sealing portions thereof, against breakage ofthe lip-seal and. while permitting conveniently operating the closurefrom the exterior of the bag. The bracing elements 16 and 11, inaddition to functioning as bracing means for the sealing elements, alsofunction advantageously to protect the faster elements against theentrance, for example, of objectionable dirt and fluid.

In the operation of opening the sealing closure 55, the runner 63ismanipulated along the fastener elements 59 and 66 in a direction suchthat the fastener elements are disengaged, for example, and thestringers 51 and 58 are spread apart. coincidental with the spreadingaction of the stringers, the sealing elements 64 and 65 and the bracingelements 16 and 11 are separated or moved transversely relative to oneanother. breaking the seal of the closure, the edges 68 and 69 of thesealing elements 64 and 65 no longer being in contact with one anotherand the sealing portions 66 and 61 assuming the poof the structure 9I 7sltion of as molded. In manipulating the runner 68, the portion 85thereof extending between the bracing elements 16 and 11 slides alongsuch elements between their abutting surfaces.

For returning the sealing closure to the closed condition, the runner 83is manipulated in the opposite direction, thereby engaging the fastenerelements and drawing together the sealing elements 64 and 65 and thebracing elements 18 and 11 such that the bracing elements resume theirabutting relation at the adjacent ends of the marginal portions 80 and8I and the sealing portions 58 and 81 flex into lip-sealing contact atthe edges 68 and 69 thereof. The bracing elements 18 and 11 assure theproper positioning of the sealing elements for resumption of theirsealing relation by lip-sealing action. Since the marginal portions ofthe bracing elements 16 and 11 press against one another at theiradjacent ends, they likewise may press against and substantially conformto the projec'ting portion 86 of the runner, substantially sealingthereagainst by virtue of the resiliency of the rubber material of suchelements. In this manner the sealing closure 55 closes elfectively theadjacent margins despite a pressure differential at such margins, andeffectively protects against accidental breakage of the seal, and alsoprotects the fastener elements of the slide fastener structure 56against objectionable exposure to the weather and entrance of materialssuch, for example, as water and dirt.

The modified construction 90 of the sealing closure shown in Fig. 6 is,in some of its aspects, substantially like the sealing closure 55, andincludes a slide fastener structure 9| comprising stringers i2 and 93 ofsuitable fabric material, beads 94 and 95 on adjacent margins thereof,and cooperating fastener elements 96 and 91 suitably secured in seriesat such margins. The fastener elements are engaged and disengaged byasuitable runner 98, which is substantially thesame as the runner 63except as to channeled top and bottom plate elements. The stringers 92and 93 may be provided with impervious coatings 98, 99, I00, MI and I02of suitable rubberlike material.

Sealing elements 104 and I05 of suitable resilient rubber-like materialare positioned at a face for closing the adjacent stringers bylip-action sealing. The sealing elements I04-and I05 may be generallyL-shape in section providing base portions I06 and I01 on the stringersand marginal portions I08 and I09 extending laterally from the baseportions and overlying the fastener elements 98 and 91. The sealingelements are separated from the fastener elements, whereby space isprovided for the top plate element I I of the runner 98.

The marginal portion I09 of the sealing element I includes a sealingsurface III extending generally on substantially normal to said face ofthe structure 9|, and such marginal portion I09 also includes agenerally rounded protecting portion II2 adjacent the sealing surfaceIII. 'The marginal portion I08 of the sealing element I04 includes asealing portion I I3 tapering to an edge I I4 and extending generally orsubstantially normal to said face of the structure -9I in position forsealing bylip-action of the edge I I4 against the sealing surface I I I.The marginal portion I08 also includes a protecting portion II5 ofgenerally rounded contour adjacent and spaced from the sealing portionH3 for guarding such edge and preventing accidental ing portion H3 isflexed such that the edge H4 is resiliently held in lip-sealing contactwith the sealing surface I I I, while opposing areas H6 and II1 trailingsuch edge may be in contact with Y one another or may be maintained inseparated relation, as shown especially in Fig. 6.

At the opposite face of the slide fastener structure 9|, bracingelements H8 and H9 are positionedsubstantially in the manner asdescribed for the sealing closure 55, except that such bracing elementsare um-spaced relation throughout their extent with the fastenerelements 96 and 91 and base portions I20 and I2I thereof may bepositioned directly opposite the corresponding base portions I05 and I01of the sealing elements I04 and I05. The marginal portions I22 and I23of the bracing elements H8 and H9 are adapted for abutting relationthroughout their extent and press against one another in substantiallysealing contact. The runner 98 has a projecting portion substantiallylike the projecting portion 86 of the runner 63, which projectingportion of the runner 98 extends between the bracing elements H8 and H9as described hereinabove for the closure 55.

The sealing closure 90 is placed in the open and the closed conditions,respectively, substantially in the same manner described for the sealingclosure 55, by manipulation of the runner 98, first in one direction andthen in the opposite direction, to engage and disengage the fastenerelements 98 and 91, thereby separating and engaging the bracing elementsand the sealing elements, respectively.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the inventionas it is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A sealing closure comprising a slide fastener structure having a pairof stringers and cooperating fastener elements at the margins of saidstringers, and a pair of sealing elements generally L-shape in sectionproviding base portions mounted at said fastener elements and freeportions extending laterally from said base portions toward each otherand overlying said fastener elements at a face of said structure, one ofsaid free portions having a sealing surface extending substantiallynormal to said face and the other of said free portions having amarginal portion tapering to an edge and said other free portionpresenting a second sealing surface extending substantially normal tosaid face and continuing to said edge, said sealing element beingdisposable with said sealing surfaces substantially in opposition and inposition for sealing by lipaction of said edge against the first saidsurface, and means for bracing said sealing elements against separationfrom one another, said means comprising elements generally L- shape insection providing base portions on said stringers at the other face ofsaid structure and portions extending laterally from said base portionstoward each other and adapted to cooperate in abutting relation with oneanother for resisting flexure of said stringers tending to separate saidsealing elements at said sealing surfaces.

2. A sealing closure comprising a slide fastener structure having a pairof stringers and cooperating fastener elements at the margins of saidstringers, a pair of sealing elements gen- 9 erally L-shape in sectionproviding base portions mounted on said stringers at said fastenerelements and free portions extending laterally from said base portionstoward each other and overlying said fastener elements at a face of saidstructure, said free portions tapering to edges and presenting sealingsurfaces extending substantially normal to said face and continuing tosaid edges, said sealing elements being disposable with said sealingsurfaces substantially in opposition and in position for sealing bylip-action of said edges and having protecting portions adjacent saidsealing surfaces for guarding said edges, and means for bracing saidsealing elements against separation from one another, said meanscomprising elements on said stringers at the opposite face of saidstructure adapted to cooperate in abutting relation with one another forresisting flexure of said stringers tending to separate said sealingelements at said sealing surfaces.

3. A sealing closure comprising a structure having a pair of separablemargins, both of which are subject to flexure, separable fastenerelements at said margins interengaging one another and detachablyuniting the margins in the closed condition of the closure, a flexibleelement on one of said margins at a face of the margins presenting asealing surface extending substantially normal to said face, a flexiblesealing element on the other of said margins at said face having amarginal portion overlying said fastener elements and tapering to anedge in the direction away from and substantially normal to said faceand said sealing element presenting a second sealing surface extendingsubstantially normal to said face and continuing to said edge, saidsealing element being disposable with said sealing surfacessubstantially in opposition and inclined toward one another in the opencondition in position for sealing by lip-action of said edge against thefirst said sealing surface in the closed condition, and means at theother face of said margins and additional to said fastener elements forbracing said sealing element against separation from the first saidsealing surface under flexure of said margins.

4. A sealing closure comprising a structure having a pair of separablemargins, slide fastener means including fastener elements for detachablyuniting said margins, sealing elements mounted directly on said fastenerelements at a face of the margins for closing the latter, said sealingelements having marginal portions tapering to edges and said sealingelements presenting sealing surfaces extending substantially normal tosaid face and continuing to said edges said sealing elements beingdisposable with said sealing surfaces substantially in opposition and inposition for sealing by lip-action of said edges, and means at the otherface of said margins additional to said fastener elements for bracingsaid margins against flexure tending to separate said edges from oneanother.

5. In a slide fastener structure comprising a pair of stringers andcooperating fastener elements at the margins of said stringers, incombination, a pair of sealing elements each mounted at said fastenerelements of a stringer and overlying said fastener elements at a face ofsaid structure, said sealing elements having free portions overlyingsaid fastener elements and projecting laterally of said structure towardone another, said free portions tapering to edges remote from saidfastener elements in the direction normal to said face and presentingsubstantially flat sealing surfaces extending substantially normal tosaid face and continuing to said edges with said sealing surfacessubstantially in opposition and in contact with one another at portionsthereof immediately adjacent said edges and the remaining portions ofsaid sealing surfaces in spaced-apart relation to one another in theclosed condition of the fastener, and bracing elements at the other faceof said structure adapted to cooperate in abutting relation with oneanother for bracing said sealing elements against separation.

6. A sealing closure comprising a structure having a pair of separableadjacent margins both of which are subject to flexure and detachablyunited in the closed condition of the closure, sealing elements offlexible material on said margins at a face of the structure, saidsealing elements having elastic marginal portions extending laterallytoward each other and tapering to edges remote from said margins in thedirection away from and substantially normal to said face and saidsealing elements presenting sealing surfaces extending substantiallynormal to said face and continuing to said edges, said sealing elementsbeing disposable with said sealing surfaces substantially opposite andinclined toward one another in the open condition in position forsealing by lip-action flexure of said edges in the closed condition, andmeans for bracing said sealing elements against separation from oneanother, said means comprising elements of flexible material on saidmargins disposed wholly at the opposite face of said structure andhaving lateral portions adapted to cooperate in abutting relation withone another for resisting flexure of said margins tending to separatesaid sealing elements at said sealing surfaces.

7. A sealing closure comprising a structure having a pair of separableadjacent margins both of which are subject to flexure and detachablyunited in the closed condition of the closure, separable fastenerelements at the adjacent edges of said margins interengaging one anotherand detachably uniting the margins in the closed condition of theclosure, a flexible element on one of said margins at a face of thestructure and presenting a sealing surface extending substantiallynormal to said face, a sealing element of resilient rubber-like materialgenerally L-shaped in section providing a base portion on the other ofsaid margins at said face of the structure and a free portion extendinglaterally from said base portion toward said flexible element andoverlying said fastener elements, said free portion tapering to an edgeremote from said fastener elements'in the direction away from andsubstantially normal to said face and presenting a second sealingsurface extending substantially normal to said face and continuing tosaid edge, said sealing element being disposable with said sealingsurfaces substantially opposite and relatively inclined toward oneanother in the open condition in position for sealing by lip-actionflexure of said edge of the sealing element against the first saidsealing surface in the closed condition, and means comprising flexiblematerial addi tional to said margins and said fastener elements at theother face of said structure for bracing said sealing element againstseparation from the first said sealing surface under flexure of saidmargins.

8. In a slide fastener structure comprising a pair of flexible stringersand cooperating teeth 11 at the adjacent margins of said stringers, incombination, a pair of sealing elements of resilient rubber-likematerial on said stringers adjacent said teeth at a face of saidstructure, said sealing elements having free portions overlying saidteeth in spaced-apart relation thereto and projecting laterally of saidstructure toward one an other, said free portions tapering to edgesremote from said teeth in the direction away from and substantiallynormal to said face and presenting sealing surfaces extendingsubstantially normal to said face and continuing to said edges, saidsealing surfaces being substantially opposite and inclined toward oneanother in the open condition of the closure and being in contact withone another at least at portions thereof im mediately adjacent saidedges in the closed condition, and bracing elements of resilientrubberlike material generally L-shaped in section providlng baseportions on said stringers at the other face of said structure andportions extending laterally from said base portions toward each otherand adapted to cooperate in the closed condition in abutting relation toone another for resisting flexure of said stringers tending to separatesaid sealing elements at said sealing surfaces.

CARROLL P. KRUPP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,385,816 Krupp Oct. 2, 1945 Certificate of(Jerrection I Patent No. 2,557,827 4 June 19, 1951 CARROLL P. KRUPP Itis hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 1, line 38, after in insert a; column 3,'line 48, column 5, lines29 and 30, 35, and column 7, line 62, for generally on read generallyor; column 9, line 57, after edges insert a comma;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, sothat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOfilce.

Signed and sealed this 4th day of March, A. D. 1952.

[SEAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

